45
U.S. Domestic3h 16m ago

A federal trial has begun for Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is accused of starting a New Year’s Day fire in 2025 that led to the destructive Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, California, United States

Who
Jonathan Rinderknecht, Matthew O’Brien, Steve Haney
What
A federal trial has begun for Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is accused of starting a New Year’s Day fire in 2025 that led to the destructive Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
When
Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:27:24 GMT · 3h 16m ago
Where
Los Angeles, California, United States ·
Why
Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht maliciously started the fire because he was distraught over a failed relationship and angry about not receiving a New Year's Eve invitation.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

The Palisades Fire, which started as the Lachman Fire and reignited, burned over 24,000 acres, killed 12 people, and destroyed approximately 6,800 structures, making it one of Los Angeles's worst disasters.

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